IBALONG – A Dance Musical Of Bicolano Epic

“Ibalong” highlights the preservation of our environment in a magical and musical setting. Entitled after Legazpi City’s week-long festivity, “Ibalong,” the musical tells the story of Handyong and his warriors who come to Bicol – formerly known as Ibalon – and wage war against beasts and monsters pillaging the land’s natural wealth. Handyong mightily battles creatures bearing a solitary eye and three throats, several winged sharks, and wild carabaos.

In introducing civilization to the barbaric land, Handyong matches wit and might with the scheming snake, Oryol.  A master of deceit, Oryol disguises herself into a sweet, young lady in order to seduce Handyong. But not to be outwitted, Handyong eventually makes Oryol fall in love with him.

Their love story – between a warrior and a monster – defines the greatness of Bicol as it explores an individual’s capacity for good and evil, and a land’s history marked by progress and destruction.

Tanghalang Pilipino caps its 26th season with a dance-theatre musical interpretation of the Bicolano epic, “Ibalong,” adapted for the stage by prolific playwright Rody Vera and directed by Tuxqs Rutaquio with Carol Bello’s musical direction, and Alden Lugnasin’s choreography.

IBALONG opens with a gala premiere on February 8 at the Tanghalang Aurelio V. Tolentino, Cultural Center of the Philippines at 8pm. The musical will run until March 3, 2013.

The cast of IBALONG include Jenine Desiderio - Oryol; May Bayot - Gugurang; Myke Salomon - Handyong; Red Nuestro - Opon; Delphine Buencamino - Koro / Understudy Oryol; Trixie Esteban - Young Oryol / Koro; Cheeno Macaraig - Young Handyong / Makusog / Kawal/ibingan; Tara Cabaero - Buring/Anino; Hazel Maranan - Onglo/Anino; Opaline Santos - Sarimao/Anino; Kristofer Kliatchko -Angongolood/Kawal; Cyril Balderama - Sarimao/Kawal; and Philip Palmos - Kikik.

The ensemble is composed of TP’s Actor's Company featuring Jonathan Tadioan - Aswang / Koro; Marco Viaña -   Rabot/Koro; Remus Villanueva - Handyong / Kawal/Angongolood; Nicolo Magno -    Baltog / Koro; Ralph Mateo -Bantong / Kalabaw/ Tambaluslos/Kawal; Regina De Vera - Bonggo/Anino; Jovanni Cadag -Sarimao ; and Doray Dayao - Popo/Anino.

Nanding Josef, Artistic Director of Tanghalang Pilipino cited that this production which is being done in cooperation with the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) and the City of Legazpi of Bicol, is a special offering to the Bicolanos and the rest of the Filipino people who are committed to protecting our natural resources and cultural heritage from the onslaught of irresponsible commercialism, modernization, frenetic world trade and homogenizing globalization ---- all hiding under the name of human progress and development, but in reality, are all motivated by self-centered motives and selfish interests of the greedy, materialistic, powerful evil creatures of this earth which was originally created by the Supreme Being only for everything that is good, true and beautiful.

Janine  Desiderio and cast presentation during the Ibalong Press Conference 

SYNOPSIS

The play will focus on the middle story of the Ibalong epic fragment, since we feel this is the most substantial of the three seemingly separate stories of the short poem. We focus on Handyong when he and his warriors come to Bicol and wage war against the wild creatures of the land. Handyong uses might to wipe out the wild creatures perceived as barbaric and monstrous. There are beasts with one eye and three throats.  Winged sharks ploughing the deep, wild carabaos were all subdued.

It seems that Handyong the mighty has begun to subdue the land of Bicol in the name of civilization except for Oryol, the sagacious snake. Handyong is eluded by Oryol. she then appears as a sweet young thing, as a way of seducing him. Oryol was a champion of deceit.

This is why Handyong finds a way to lure Oryol to help him. In the end, Oryol agrees to help Handyong destroy her own kind for a great deception that our hero is able to heap on the snake. Handyong makes the snake monster fall in love with him.

The land is set free when Oryol betrays the wild creatures of the land of Bicol. Handyong's heroism is fully established. But not without a tinge of guilt.

This love story between a mighty warrior and a monster becomes the central focus of the Ibalong, the capacity for good and evil, for progress and destruction, love and deceit are equally imprinted in the descendants of Handyong. The precarious balance between these two opposites defines the greatness of the land of Bicol.

The artistic team of IBALONG is led by Nanding Josef  ( Artistic Director ), Rody Vera ( Playwright ); Tuxqs Rutaquio ( Director/Set Designer ); Carol Bello (Composer/Musical Director ); Rizalino Reyes & Inkantada, All-Women Group (Arranger );  Leeroy New ( Costume & Puppet Designer ); Alden Lugnasin (Choreographer ); Katsch Catoy ( Lights Designer and Technical Director ) and   TJ Ramos ( Sound Designer ).

The production team is composed of Jennifer Bautista ( Production Manager ),  Alpha Joy Ruiz ( Deputy Production Manager ),  Jo  Ann Requiestas ( Assistant Production Manager ), Jerome Aytona ( Stage Manager ), Noel Taylo and Eric Sindol ( Assistant Stage Managers ), Daniel Gregorio ( Costume Custodian ), Zaldy Baldelobar ( Property Master ), Raphael David (Make-Up and Prosthetic Artist ), and Jerry Ramirez ( Stunt Choreography ).

The Marketing / Sales, and publicity group is led by Cherry Bong Z. Edralin ( Marketing Manager ), Toots Tolentino ( Publicist ), Jojit Lorenzo ( Photography ), Carlo Vergara  ( Poster Design ),  Joan Abubo ( Ticket Officer ),   Lorelei Celestino ( Marketing & Sales Associate ) and Juan Lorenzo Marco ( Sales Executive ).   

The schedule of performances of IBALONG are as follows: 

( Fri ) February 8, 15, 22, March 1, 2013 at 8:00 pm; 

( Sat ) February 9, 16, 23, March 2, 2013 at 3:00 pm and 8:00 pm; 

( Sun ) February 10, 17, 24, March 3, 2013 at 3:00 pm.

Ticket prices are: 

P 800.00 ( regular ); 

P 400.00 ( students ) and 

P 640.00 (for senior citizens -- 20% discount on the regular price)

 For  the  Feb.  8  gala  night, tickets  are  at  

P 1,000.00  ( regular );  

P 500.00  ( students ) and 

P 800.00 ( for senior citizens -- 20% discount on the regular price)

Support our contribution to save our planet, our environment, and our cultural heritage. 

Don’t fail to watch IBALONG!

With elaborate costumes, energetic fight choreography, and haunting music, IBALONG guarantees audiences of all ages an enthralling experience rarely seen in original Filipino theatre.

Tickets are now available at all TicketWorld Outlets.  Call TicketWorld at 891-9999  and CCP Box Office at 832-3704

For inquiries on ticket reservations, group sales, sponsorships, special performances, call Tanghalang Pilipino at 832-1125 local 1620/1621 or contact Cherry Bong Z. Edralin at 0917-750-0107, 0918-959-3949 for more details.

Visit our website at www.tanghalangpilipino.org.ph or
E-mail us at ccptanghalan@yahoo.com or cherry_edralin888@yahoo.com.